Bed and cylinder printing press



Nov. 24, 1925.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F T LEILICH BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Nov. 24,1925- F. T. LEILICH BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS v Filed Dec. 19, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS Filed Dec. 19, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 LL-i.

' I l INVENToR.

Nov. 24 1925.

F. T. LEILICH BED AND CYLINDER PRINTING PRESS 4 vSheets-Sheet 4 Filed DBC. 19, 1923 INVENTOR QB D Patented Nov. 24,' 1925.

UNITED STATES FRANCIS T. LEILICH, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

BED Ann CYLINDER ienlinfrne PRESS.

Application filed December 19, 1923.

To 07.7. who/11i t 722.013/ concorsi.:

Be it known that l, FRANC/is T. Leimen, a citizen of the Unitedi-tates, and a resident of the city and county of San Franiisco and Sta-tc of California, have ,in-.1I vrtcd` certain new and useful lmprorementr: in Bed and Cylinder Printing Presses, of which the following description, and accompanying drawings, are a full and complete specification.

'l` his invention relates to that class of printing presses in which a lat bed is reciprocated beneath a continuously rotated impression cylinder and embodies certain improvements whereby a larger product of a higher quality is obtained. i

is well known that `in machines of the foregoing character in which the type bed is reciprocated by means which engage `with it at one side of a central longitudinalline through it, that much trouble and loss oi' time occurs from the side strains andty-.fisting movements created thereby, and which causo the worliLk` up of letters and quads While running.

It also Well linownthat the speed of machines of this character, .more especially those of the perfecting type in which the bcd'is very heavy, is limited by the dilliculty of reversing the movement of the bed, the greater part of the Work of which is performed when the reversal means are wellA toward the end of the movement.

One of the objects of my invention :is to reciprocate the type bed of a printing press by means which are continuously engaged with it at, or near, its respectire opposite .sides and by which it moved, more articularly during the printing period, at auniform velocity, and by which it retarded and accelerated, at each end of its to and fro mo rement, by the same elements that more it at other times; whereby a perfect parallelism of movement is secured and all side strains'and resultant evils are entirely pre rented. A valuable feature of the reversing means is the ability, in practicing this invention, to determine the rate ol' retardation and acceleration of the type bed. and thru; distribute more equally the Work and Another of my objects is to secure moet perfect bed register possible which l attin by gea por tively to ing` proces, tu..

Serial No. 681,616.

during the printing to the exclusion of all other means.

ln Dresses in which the cylinder is lifted to permit the type bed to return on the nonprinting strol'e the *cylinder driving Vgear and the intermediate gear engaged there-y with run out of correct `pitch a large parti of the time, causing noise, wear and im- -f .t J. .L M paired register'. A mrther object of my 1nvention is to maintain the nitch lines of the" section.` Fig. 4t, is an end elevation, in cross section, of an alternative construction. Fig. 5, anexplanatory diagram of the bed movement. Fig. 6, isa plan View, in cross section, ofthe mechanism for shifting the driving pinion; Fig. 7, is an end elevation of the shifting mechanism, in cross section. Fig. 8, is a side elevation of the means by which the pitch lines of the several members of the train for rotating the impression cylinder', atcertain times, are maintained co-`A incident at all times and in` allpositions. Figi.` 9, is a sideelevation of an alternative construction of said means. Fig.A l0, is a sideelevation, in detail crosssection, showing a method of mounting the vertical member of thebefore named' means, illustrated in Fig. 8, independently of the cylinder shaft.

At one end of a driving shaft 1 isiXed a bevel gear 2, .engaged with a bevelv gear 3 secured upon one end of a vertical shaft 4, on which is also fixed a spur gear 5 engaged with a gear 6 secured upon a shaft 6athe gear 6 is engaged With a gear 7 secured upon a shaft 7a, rotatable once in each complete reciprocation of the type bed. Rigidly iixed uponlthe shaft'a is a crank 8 to Which is secured a stud and roller 9, continuously engaged with a slot, or path 10, formed Within a sliadble body ll, horizontally moyable in guides, or Ways, 12, l2.

The sli'dable body, as originally con# structed, is known as a Scotch yoke, in which, the slot, or path, is straight and of an unvarying contour, whereas in my 1nvention the corresponding slot, or path 10, is, in its preferred form, of a curvilinear path throughout, but it may be partly Y straight and partly curved at one or both ends if desired, by which a movement is obtained not possible with the said Scotch yoke, as illustrated in the comparativediagram Fig. and hereinafter fully described. To the slidable body 11, is attached a rack 11, the teeth of which constantly engage with those of a gear wheel 13 rigidlysecured upon a shaft 14. To each of the ends of of the latter is fixed one of two gear wheels 15, 15. The latter gear wheels are continuously engaged with the respective bed driving racks 16, 16, rigidly attached to the type bed 17.

In the alternative construction, illustrated in Fig. 4, a single bed driving rack 16a, is attached to the type bed 17, preferably at, or near, its longitudinal central line, the said rack 16a engages constantly with a single bed driving gear wheel 15a, fixed on the same shaft as that on which the gear wheel 15 is secured, both of said gear wheels may be joined together as one element if desired.

To the respective opposite sides of the type bed 17, are secured cylinder driving racks 18, 18, preferably cut in the same bodies of metal in which are cut the bed driving racks is, ie. i

Engaging with the racks 18, 18, at certain times, are auxiliary cylinder driving gear wheels 19, 19, one of each secured to the respective opposite ends of the cylinder 20.

The cylinder 20, is fixed on acylinder driving shaft 21, to one of the ends of which is secured a cylinder driving' gear wheel 22, which is engaged with an intermediate gear wheel 23, in turn engaged, at certain times, with a driving pinion 24, slidably mounted on the driving shaft 1, and continuously rotatable therewith.

By thus gearing the impression cylinder and type bed together, during the printing operation as above described and shown in the drawings, the said cylinder being continuously rotated a more accurate bedregister` is obtained than is possible when the cylinder is independently rotated by a separate gear train from the driving` shaft. The mechanism for raising and lowering the impression cylinder 20, is as follows:

Fixed on the shaft 6, is a cam 25, in the path, 25, of which is engaged a cam roll and stud 26 secured upon one end of a lever 27, the other end of which is pivotally en gaged with one end of a hooked connection 28, provided with a spur 28a, the connection 28, engages, normally, with a pin 29, on an arm 29, rigidlyA fixed on a rocking shaft 30.-

Secured on the respective opposite ends of the rocking shaft 30 are bodies 31, and 32, respectively provided with cam paths 31, 32a, one of which 31, formed in the body 31 is shown in Fig. 2, that in the body 32, being a duplicate of that in the body 31, is not shown.

Engaged with the respective cam paths 31", 32a, are the rollers and studs 31, 32", fixed on the respective levers 33, 33, which are fulcrumed in suitable stantionary positions. To the opposite ends of said levers are pivotallyy attached theirespective lower ends of the connections 34', 34a, to which are simi-` larly attached, at their upper ends, the arms of the upper members 35, 35", of the toggle mechanism. The said upper members bear against the respective under sides of the impression bars 36, 36a, rigidly fixed on the respective columns 37, 37, the lower members 38, 38a, of the toggle mechanism bear D against the cylinder shaft bearings 39, 39a, by which the cylinder 2O is depressed, the weight of the latter being balanced by the usual springs, one of which l10, is shown in Fig. 2.

The device for manually interrupting the reciprocation of the impression cylinder 20, includes a foot lever 41, fixed on one end of a shaft L1-2, to the opposite end of which is secured an arm 43, provided with apin 4.3, extending under the end of the hooked connection 28. This device is held in an inoperative position by any suitable resilient means, by which the hooked connection 28. may be lifted from the pin 29, on the rockl ingla'rm 29, and restored to its inoperative position. i 1n all printing presses in which the cylinder rotates more than once in a complete reciprocation of the type bed it is lifted to permit the type bed to return on the nonprinting stroke, this lifting of the cylinder separates the pitch line of its driving gear wheel from that of the intermediate gear wheel engaged with it, and as said gear wheels, in actual practice, run out of correct pitch nearly two thirds of the running time the faces and flanks of their respective teeth wear to an incorrect shape, when they io longer roll together but slide over each other, with the result that the impression cylinder is rotated by successive impulses which, slight though they may be, cause undue wear, with consequent noise and inipaired register.

ln mechanisms of the character referred to it is necessary to lift the impression cylinder only sufficiently to permit the return of the type form,v whereas in my invention the lift of the cylinder must be great enough to safely clear the points of the respective teeth of the auxiliary gear wheels 19, 19 `from those of the cylinder driving racks 18, 18.

lll)

This amount of lift, in the usual construction, would separate the respective teeth the cylinder driving gear Wheel and intermediate gear Wheel engaged therewith, to such a great extent as to be entirely i1npracticable. It is also necessary, at times, to adjust the cylinder away from the forni, in which position the said gear Wheels run out of correct pitch all of the time.

ln this invention I have provided ineans by which the pitch lines of the several niembers of the cylinder driving gear train may be maintained coincident at all times and in all positions regardless of the position of the cylinder with respect to the forni. filipported around the shaft 2l is a connection s/l, illustrated in a preferred form in Figs. Q, El and IO, in which said connection 44, is mov-ably mounted upon a support secured. to the cylinder shaft bearing 39. It is desirable that the support 45 be independent of contact with the cylinder shaft 2l, to avoid unnecessary Wear and friction;

lllliile the connection la maybe mounted directly upon the shaft 2l, or upon any part moved by the hereinafter described means for lifting the said cylinder shaft 2l. I prefer to inount it as illustrated in Figs. :2, 8, and l0, for the reasons before stated relative to the support 45.

Fired upon the connection lla, is a stud -l-G, upon which is rotatably mounted the intermediate gear Wheel engaged With the cylinder driving gear Wheel 22, which is engaged, at certain times, with the driiing pinion Q4. The respective pitch lines of said gears are maintained coincident at all times and in all positions by a link il?, pivotally secured to the loiver end of the 'onncc.tion 44e, and at the other end to a suitable stationary part. In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 9, the same effect is obtained by forming in the lower end f the connection Llei, a curved slot 47a, in which is a curved block Tb pivotally secured, as a screv.v el-T, to a suitably fixed part. In order to maintain the pitch `lines of the intermediate gear 3, and driving pinion 24, always coincident the centre of the stud 46, lnust more in an arc, see Fig. 8, the radius of which equals the sum of the radii of said gear 223 and pinion 24. In Figs. l and 8 the link is shown as pivotally attached to the ronnection lll below the stud 1lb, and as shorter than the combined radii of the ini 'mediate gear wheel 23 and the driving pinion 2%-, the arr described by the moving 're of the link i-7 is therefore more conhan tha*y described by the'centre of the Ll-( `which is necessary to maintain the pitch lines of said gear 23 and pinion 2d alr'aj's coincizilent. rIhe difference in the conrefiity of the aforesaid arcs is therefore go-L'crned by the distance between the centre of the sted -l-t and the centre of the link 47,

the greater distance between said points re quiring a shorter radius of the link t? and consequent greater convexitv of the arc described by it. The foregoing applies also to the alternative construction shown in Fig. 9 the curve 4,7 being obtained in like manner as before set forth.

The means by which the impression cylinder 20 is engaged with, and disengaged from, the type bed li" before and after the printing neriod, is as folloivs:

rl`he driving pinion 2li is constrained to rotate with the driving shaft l by a spline i fixed therein, or in any other suitable manner. The driving pinion 2a is provided with a collar 48 engaged by rollers or blocks 49 pivotally attached to a yoke 50, fixed on ashaft 51, 'which is constrained to a sliding movement by a coupling block 52 rigidly fixed upon the shaft 5l. Secured in like manner to the coupling block 52 is a shaft 53 the free end of which is guided in a bracket 53a.

'Ilo the shaft 5l is 'also fixed a block 54; to which is pivotally secured a stud and roller or trui'inion block 55 engaged with a yoked lever 56 lined on a shaft 57, opposite end of the latter is secured a lever 58 to Which is lined a stud and roller 59 engaging with a cam path 60, formed in the body 3l, secured on the shaft 80.

In the operation of my invention power is applied to the driving shaft l, rotating, through the gear train 2, B, 5, 6 the gear Wheel 7, and thereby reciprocating, through the connected elen'ients, before described, the type bed l? once in each cycle of motion, the impression cylinder Q0 being constant` ly rotated twice in said cycle of motion.

Referring to lFig.` 2, the view is from the i gear side, of the press and shows it as at the cndof the printing stroke, with the iin? pression cylinder 20 engaged, through the auxiliary wheels l), 19, with the cylinder driving racks I8, 18, secured to the type bed 17, and with the driving pinion 24 disengaged froin the intermediate gear Wheel 23, thereby permitting the cylinder 2O to be actuated solely by its operative engagement with the type bed 17. mechanisms in which crank driven means have been used for reciprocating the type bed the impression cylinder has been geared to the latter, during the printing period, but, as is well known, the bed movement obtained by such means is variable and at no tiine constant. This irregular' bed movement caused gray, or unevcnly inked sheets to occur, as less time was afforded, during the faster parts of the bed novement, for the inking rollers to take the ink from the plate and transfer it to the type form, less time Was also afforded for the striking of the ink on the` sheet, these faults, or defects, were particularly noticeable `when the type To the i Heretofore in certain l. li)

matter was heavy, requiringl va good .deal ot ink. In all printing presses in which the type bed is reciprocated by means which engage with it at one side of a central longitudinal line through it side strains and twisting movements occur, which may be caused by the position of a. form when placed to one side oit the bed, or by a form in which the impression is heavier onone side than the other, due to the malte ready. The before named detects are more apparent when the heavier impression is opposite to the point ot' engagement or' the driving means with the type bed, the pull ot' the plate rollers also contributes in setting up strains. These twisting movementsvcaus the working up of quads and letters and loss o time in stoppage ot' the press to correct them.

In the development of the reciprocating flat bed printing press the reversal of the movement has always been a dificult prob-` lem and one limiting its speed, especially in large presses carrying heavy forms thereby necessitatingl a heavy increase inthe static weight of the press to absorb the kinetic energy, and keep the press in position on the floor. In all presses known to me the retardation and acceleration of the type bed has been accomplished by means in which the work and strain has been irregularly distributed, the greater part of the retardation being done during the latter half of the reversing period, and the acceleration during the latter half of that period. In my invention the retarding and accelerating of the type bed is accomplished by the same means that drive it to and fro. The speed of the retarding and accelerating movements may be made to suit the requirements of any particular type of press and the labor and strain of reversing the direction of the bed movement better equalized, or distributed, over the reversal period and the shock or jar upon the press at the respective ends of said movements greatly decreased. By thus moving the type bed to and fro and reversing its direction of movement by a single means positively and continuouslyy engaged with itat it-s respective opposite sides I secure perfect parallelism of movement,which is not affected by any position of either the iorm or impression, and also secure a better distribution of the reversal strain.

In conjunction with the above I also obtain the most perfect bed register possible by gearing the impression cylinder directly with'the type bed during the printing operation to the exclusion of all other means. In order that this invention may be clearly understood I have illustrated, in Fig. 5, in a comparative diagrammatic form the difference in construction between the ordinary Scotch yoke or crossxhead movement and the construction of this application. In the diagram Fig. 5 the centre of the crank stud andfroller 9, attached to the crank 8, describes in one halt of its revolution the arc A, A, which is divided into twenty four ordinal spaces of fifteen degrees each, to correspond with the three hundred and sixty degrees of one revolution or' the impression cylinder, which rotates twice in each reciprocation of the type bed. At the top or' the sheet are drawn three horizontal lines B, B1, B2, each equal in length to the chord of the arc A,VA, from the centre oi' said arc dotted radial lines extend to its circumference and includev Spaces of iitteen degrees at the left is indicated the period in which the reversal of movement occurs and from D to C1 the maior part of the movement.

To the right of the sheet, the vertical lines L,

m, n., 0, p, between C1 and D1 and B1 and B3 indicate the reversal period at thev opposite end of the major movement. These ordinal spaces are all unequal and illustrate the variations in the crank and cross head movement, also called a Scotch yoke. Between the horizontal lines B and B1 and the vertical lines D and G1, the vertical lines G are all equal and uniform and illustrate the major part of the movement obtained by my invention and also show the ditference between it and the Scotch yoke movement shown between B1 and B2.

rIhe ordinal spaces between the horizontal lines B and B1, and C and D, and C1 and D1, atpthe respective ends thereof` are the same as in the Scotch yoke movement and are for the same purpose, to wit, retarding and accelerating the movement of the bed, at each end of the reciprocation. In the Scotch yoke movement the slot or path, engaged by the roller 9 is straight, as shown by the solid line C1, and always imparts a movement to a connected body that is at no time constant and it is a prime object of my invention to move such a connected body by a crank during a predetermined time, or times, at an equal or uniform velocity, as will now be described. The stud and roller 9 is shown as leaving the path H at the end ot the printing period, the arrow indicating the direction of the movement, and about entering the straight part of the path C1 between A and al.

The dotted curve II along which the stud and roller 9 must pass to impart to the bed the equal movement desired is platted as follows:

The horizontal dot and dash lines Z), c, d, e, f, and g, proceed from the contact points of the vertical ordinal lines F with the arc A, A, and extend across the vertical line C1 to the right. The variations 1 to f1 inchisive, between the vertical dotted lines er and the full vertical or ordinal lines l" are shown on the horizontal line lil and indicate the extent of the deviation from the straight vertical line @l of the Scotch yoke movement necessary to obtain the equal and uniform movement of this invention, as illustrated between the horizontal lines B, B1 and the vertical lines C] and l). The variations 1 to f1 inclusive are now set ofiA from the vertical line C1, to the right on the respective horizontal dot and dash lines to ,f inclusive and thereon marked, by a cross in the drawing. Through these marks is then drawn' the heavy dotted curve H commencing` at c: on the vertical line C1 and ending' at y] on the same line, the curve H indicates the centre of the path through which the stud and roller 9 must pass to afford the equal and uniform movement desired. rlhe movement imparted to the slidable body 1l, after passing the vertical central line lll, is a repetition in reverse order of that described and therefore requires no further elucidation. In the practical application of my invention, I have illustrated in Fig. 5 a preferred form of means for reversing; the movment of the type bed in which the strain, or labor, is more evenly distributed over the retarding and accelerating` period, whereby the kinetic energy of the type bed remainingl at the end of the reciprocation is 2greatly reduced and higher speed made possible with theasame static uf'eigrht of the press. In the preferred form of reversal means between the horizontal lines B1 and B2 and the vertical lines C1, D1, is extended a shorter horizontal line B3, between the latter line and the line B2 are vertically extended the ordinal lines L1, m1, n?, 01, p1, each enclosing` unequal spaces. These lines are arbitrarily determined and illustrate the di'liierence between the ordinal lines li to D1 of the Scotch yoke movement and the ordinal lines L1, m1, al, o, 21, to D1 of my invention. In the Scotch yoke movement and also in the crank and connection mechanism once used, the position, or included spaces between the lines aforesaid were dependent upon, and affected by, the crank radius in the former device, and in the latter mechanism by the length of the connection also, whereas in my invention the spacingl of said lines is determined and fixed at will to suit the varying requirements of different sizes of presses. From the respective points of contact of the vertical lines L to D1 inclusive with the respective radial dotted lines at the arc A, A, horizontal lines cl, 7a2, 7c3, 7a4, c5 extend to the right across the vertical line C1. Upon each of these lines respectively are then setk olf from the vertical line C1 to the right thereof, the several distances shown between the dotted ordinal lines L to y) inclusive and the solid lines Z1 to 771 inclusive, as shown between the horizontal lines B2 and B8, and then marked, as by a cross, on the respective horizontal lines cl to c inclusive.

Through the aforesaid marks is then drawn the light dotted line l, commencinze,` at 'the termination of the heavy dotted line I-I at (i, and passing through each of said cross marks to /r where it recedes to the vertical line C1 at the bottom as shown in Fig.

This line l illustrates the centre of the path in which the stud and roller 9 moves during;` the retarding and acceleratin;v of the type bed. The light-dotted line l is shown as straight because of the diiiiculty in showing` on so smaila scale the slight variations in curvature, the outline, or contour, of said line is determined entirely by the relative number of degrees included in the respective ordinal spaces L1 to p1, the line K platted therefrom may be either wholly curvilinear or partly straight. In the preferred form of retarding means as illustrated in Fig. 5, it will be seen that duringl one quarter of the movement of the crank stud 9 the speed of the type bed has been reduced to three quarters of that of its major travel, at one half of the movement of said crank stud to less than one half of said speed and at three quarters of the movement of said crank stud to one quarter of the speed of the type bed duringT its major travel, whereby the kinetic energy of the type bed is very greatly reduced, higher speed made possible and a great reduction in the static weight new nicessary to absorb said energy ensured.

I wish it understood that the ordinals lil, to ,p1 inclusive can be changed at the will of the designer and that in l? 5, theyj 21s well as all the drawings are illustrative only. In Fig. 5, in the preferred form of reversal of the reciprocation the' stud and roller 9 is shown on the retarding end of the printing stroke, but as the plattingI of the accelerating` end of the movenient is the same no further illustration is thouglit necessary, and as the preferred manner of moving` the bed on the nonprinting stroke and reversing its movement .is the same as on the printing stroke before described further illustration of the latter stroke is also deemed superfluous.

In constructing an operative mechanism it will be found desirable to plat the diagram Fig. 5, full size, with many more ordinals of fewer .included degrees, in order that the movement imparted to the slidable body ll and connected type bed should -be as uniform as possible throughout the major part of the movement; Perfect mechanical accuracy in the plattinioi` of the curve H is, however, not absolutely necessary in securing perfection of bed register, because the impression 'cylinder 2O and type bed 17 aregeared together positively during the printing operation, the latter actuating the former exclusively during said operation, it is obvious therefore that both printing elements must move at exactly the same velocity.

I i have however, provided mechanical means for platting the curve H in Fig. 5 with mathematical accuracy, disclosure of which is reserved for a separate application. Continuing` the description of the operation of my invention the printing of the sheet being completed, the cylinder driving racks, 18, 18 move out of engagement with the auxiliary gear wheels 19, 19, prior to which time the driving pinion 2/lis moved into engagement with the intermediate gear 23. 'Ihe type bed 17 is then slowed down and reversed in the directioniof its movement, the impression cylinder 20 has meanwhile been raised to permit the said type bed 17 to be moved on the return stroke, at the end of which it is again retarded and re versed in the direction of its movement and begins again on the printing stroke the driving pinion 24 having previously been disengaged from the intermediate gear wheel 23 as shown in Fig. l. The driving pinion 24 is shifted into and out of engagement with the intermediate gear wheel 28 during the time that the type bed 17 is moving on the printing stroke. The cylinder driving rack 18, 18, attached to the type bed 17, are engaged or disengaged, with and from the auxiliary gear wheels 19, 19, just prior to the time that the driving pinion 24 is shifted, as before described, and when the type bed 17 is moving, on the printing stroke at a rectilinear velocity which is equal to the peripheral velocity of the printing surface of the cylinder. The suspension of the reciprocation of the said cylinder is accomplished bythe devices shown and described, in the usual manner, and needs no speciiic description.

While it is not necessary in practicing my invention, that the major part of the nonprinting, or return stroke should be at the same uniform and equal rate of speed as that of the printing stroke, I prefer that it should be so, as a better inking of the type form is secured and gray sheets and consequent double rolling of said form avoided. The mechanism by which the im pression cylinder is depressed, or lowered, to a printing position differs from that used in other constructions for a like purpose, in that it has an additional function, that of shifting the driving` pinion 211 into and out of engagement with the intermediate gear wheel 23 before and after the printing period.

In the operation of the cylinder depress ing mechanism, toward the end of the return stroke the cylinder starts to descend, completing its movement before the cylinder driving racks 18, 18, engage with the auxiliary gear wheels 19, 19, on the printing` stroke and as the driving pinion 24'must not be shifted out of engagement with the intermediate gear wheel before the said racks k18, 18,'are engaged `with the said gear wheels 19, 19, it is obvious that the cylinder depressing mechanism must be competent to perform the two functions without interfering with each other.

After the printing of the sheet and before the auxiliary gear wheels 19, 19 are disengaged from the cylinder driving racks 18, 18, the driving pinion 2% is shifted into engagement with the intermediate gear wheel 23, the cylinder 2O is then raised to its highest position, by the springs 4:0, 40, one only of which is shown, in Fig. 2, and rotated by the gear train 22, 23, and 24:. This shifting of the driving pinion 24, at certain times, isaccomplished by means in which the members 81, Figs. 2, 6, and 7 is provided with two cam paths 81a and 60 respectively. The cam path 31a is formed with a portion of its path concentric and of sufficient length to allow further movement of the body 81 and thereby permit the cam 60 te shift the driving pinion 24 without furthei movement of the cylinder depressing mechanism.

This shifting of the pinion 24 is therefore performed by the several connecting` members interposed between said pinion 24 and the cam path G0, by which they are actuated, when the said depressing mechanism .is at rest. The description aforesaid relative to the formation of the cam path 31? in the body 31 also appliesto the similar cam path in the body 32, which is not shown. As, in my invention, the impression cylinder 20, must return to its highest position when the tripping device shown in plan in Fi g. 1 is used and as the cylinder lifting springs L10, 40, are prevented from doing so because of the positive engagement of the cylinder depressing mechanism with the cam paths 31, 82h, I have provided the hooked lever 28 with a spur 28a of sufiicient length that when said device is used to lift the hooked connection28 out of engagement with the stud 29?L the arm 29 will be moved to the full eX- tent of the movement of said hooked connection by the spur 28a contacting with the pin 29a on the arm 29 thereby turning the bodies 31 and 32 thus permitting the lifting of the cylinder 20 to its highest position and obviating all danger of breaking the teeth of the cylinder driving racks 18, 18, and auxiliary gear wheels 19, 1

The tripping or suspension of vthe cylinder reciprocation, at will, is accomplished in the usual manner by the devices shown, in plan in Fig. 5, and hereinbefore described. T

maarre have omitted from the drawings many of the necessary elements of an cperatiif'e printing press as forming no part of my invention, and While l have illustrated and described it in a preferred form of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as many modifications may be made Within its scope Without departing from its spirit.

My invention resides not only in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of the mechanism and its members, as shown and described and their equivalents, but broadly and more particularly as follows:

In means for completely reciprocating the type bed by the same elements which move it during the major part of the reciprocation and Which are in continuous operative engagement with the type bed at, or near, its respective opposite sides, by which perfect parallelism of movement is secured and also by which the Work and strain of accelerating and retarding the type bed is distributed more evenly over the period in which said Work is done.

In means for reciprocating the type bed, as before set forth, in combination with mechanism for moving the impression cylinder into a position to beoperatively engaged With the type bed before the beginning of the printing operation and out of said position after said operation is completed, by which both printing elements are moved at the same velocity during the printing operation and the greatest possible accuracy of bed register is secured.

In means for reciprocating the type bed in which a rotated crank is an element for impl-ating to the type hed a uniform movement dering the printing perod- In means for reciprocating the tyipe bed which include a rotated crank; and a slidable body provided with a .path of varying contour engaged by the crank.

In means for maintaining the pitch lines of the cylinder driving gear train coincident at all times and in all positions.

l claim:

l. A type bed, and means for reciprocating it, which include a horizontally rotated crank and a slidable member provided With a path of varying contour with which the crank is always engaged and by which said member is moved to and fro.

2, A combination as called for in claim l in which the member is horizontally slidable.

3. A type bed, and means, which include a horizontally rotated crank a slidable member engaged with the latter and reciprocated by it and elements actuated by the slidable member and operatively engaged with the type bed, for moving said type bed, during the major part of the printing stroke, at a uniform velocity.,

4;. A type bed, and means for reciprocating it, which include a crank, a horizontally slidable member provided with a path of varying contour with which the crank is engaged, a rack rigidly attached to the slidable I member, a gear Wheel continuously engaged with the rack, a rack rigidly attached to the type bed, and a gear Wheel operatively engaged With the first named gear Wheel and continuously engaged With the latter rack.

5. A type bed, and means for moving it to and fro at a uniform velocity, during a predetermined time, and for reversing the direction of its movement, which include a plurality of gear Wheels rotated in fixed positions and in continuous operative engagement with the respective opposite sides of said type bed.

6. A type bed, and means for reciprocating it at a predetermined time, at a uniform velocity, which include among its elements two bed driving racks rigidly attached to the type bed, one at, or near, each of its tvvo sides, and two gear Wheels respectively and continuously engaged with said racks; whereby the said type bed is moved at a uniform velocity during the major part of the printing stroke, and its movement retarded and reversed by the same means that move it to and fro.

7. A type bed, means for reciprocating it which include a crank and a slidable member continuously engaged therewith, animpression cylinder and mechanism for moving the cylinder into a position to operatively engage with the type bed, during the major part of the printing stroke; whereby the respective printing surfaces of the type bed and impression cylinder, are then moved `at the same velocity.

8, A combinationl as called for in claim 7 in` Which the slidable member is provided with a path of varying contour.

9. A type hed, bed driving racks attached thereto, one at, or near, each of the tWo sides thereof, means for reciprocating the type bed which are continuously engaged with said racks, an impression cylinder, auxiliary gear Wheels secured thereto, one at each end thereof, cylinder driving racks attached to the type bed, one at each of the two sides thereof, and mechanism for moving said gear Wheels into and out of the path of said cylinder driving rac-ks at predetermined times.

10.` A type bed, bed driving racks attached thereto, one at, or near, each of the tWo sides thereof, means for reciprocating the type bed which are continuously engaged with the bed driving racks, an impression cylinder, auxiliary gear Wheels secured thereto, one at each end thereof, cylinder driving racks attached to the type bed, one at each of the tvvo sides thereof, means for rotating the cylinder which include an `intermediate gear Wheel engagement lwheel, at predetermined times; whereby,

and a slidable driving` pinion engaged withwhen the driving pinion'is engaged with the intermediate gear wheel, the cylinder is rotatedby the said driving pinion and when disengaged therefrom said cylinder' is rotated by its operative engagement with the type bed.

11. A combination as called for in claim 10 which includes manually operated devices for suspending-,at will, the operation cit' said mechanism; whereby the cylinder is lcontin-l uously rotated by the rdriving pinion, during such suspension. `5

`12. A type bed, means for moving it during the major part of the'printing stroke at a uniform velocity and which are continuously engaged with the type bed at, or near, its respective opposite sides, an impression cylinder, and mechanism for moving the latter into and out oi positive operative engagement with the type bed; whereby when the type bed and cylinder are in such engagement their respective impression surfaces are moved at the same velocity.

13. A combination as called for in claim 12, which includes in the means for moving the type bed a crank and a slidable member.

14. A combination as called for in claim 12, which includes in the means for moving the type bed a crank and a-slidable member provided with a path of varying contour.

which include a crank and a horizontally slidable member provided vwith a path of varying contour engaged by the crank, an impression cylinder, means for rotating` it, at certain times, which includey a slidable driving pinion, mechanism for moving the cylinder into and out of operative engagement with the type bed at predetermined times and means, actuated by said mechanism for sliding the driving pinion into and out of operative engagement with the impression cylinder, by which the latter is rotated, during the nonprinting period, by its inder, mechanism for moving it into a position to be operatively engaged with the type bed and for removing 1t therefrom at predetern'iii'ied times, a` cylinder' driving gear wheel, operatively attached to the cylinder, an intermediate gear wheel directly engaged with said driving gear wheel, and means 'for maintaining the pitch lines of both of said gear wheels coincident at all times and in all positions.y

12'. 1n a combination as called i'or in claim 16 devices `for manually suspending, at will, the reciprocation of said mechanism.

i8. A cylinder driving gear wheel, an intermediate gear wheel directly engaged therewith, mechanism for vertically reciprocating 'the'first named gear wheel, at predetermined times, which includes posit-ire means for depressing it and resilient means for raising it, a connection inovably mounted upon a part moved by said mechanism, and a stud fixed upon the connection on which the intermediate gear wheel is rotatably mounted, for maintaining the pitch lines of both said gear wheels coincident at all times and in all positions.

19. -A'cylinder driving gear wheel, an intermediate gear wheel directly engaged therewith, mechanism for vertically reciprocating the first named gear Wheel, at predetermined times, means for maintaining the pitch lines of both said gear wheels coincident at all times and in all positions, a driving pinion engaged at certain times with the intermediate gear wheel, and elements cooperating with said means, for maintaining the pitch 'lines ofsaid intermediate gear wheel and driving pinionfcoincident at all times and in all positions.

- 20. A cylinder driving gear Wheel, an in- Y termediate gear wheel engaged therewith, 15. A type bed, means for reciprocating it connection and thereby causing the stud,

upon which the intermediate gear wheel is rotated, tomove in an arc concentric to the wheel, mechanism for vertically recipro-l cating the first named gear wheel which includes positive means for depressing it and resilient means for raising it, at vpredetermined times, -and means for maintaining the pitch lines-of both said gear wheels coincident at all times and in all positions.

22. A cylinder driving gear Wheel, a shaft upon Which it is rigidly fixed, an intermediate gear Wheel engaged with the cylinder driving gear Wheel, a connection, supported around the shaft, upon which the intermediate gear Wheel is rotatably mounted, mechanism for vertically reciprocating the gear Wheel iirst named Which includes positive means for depressing it and resilient means for raising it, and means including said connection for maintaining the pitch lines of both said gear Wheels coincident at all times and in all positions.

23. A combination as called tor in claim 22 in which the connection is supporter around the shaft independently of it.

24. A cylinder, a shaft upon which it is rigidly secured, a cylinder driving gear Wheel fixed, inlike manner, upon the shaft, a connection supported around the shaft, an intermediate gear Wheel rotatably mounted on the connection and engaged with the former gear Wheel, a slidable driving pinion engaged, at certain times with the intermediate gear Wheel, a type bed, means for reciprocating it, mechanism for vertically reciprocating the cylinder, at predetermined times, to move it into, and out of, a position to be operatively engaged with, and disengaged Jirom, said type bed, means, actuated by said mechanism, for sliding the driving pinion into and out of engagement with the said intermediate gear Wheel at predetermined times; whereby the cylinder is rotated by the driving pinion when it is engaged With the said intermediate gear Wheel, and is partially rotated by its operative engagement With the type bed when the said driving pinion is disengaged from said intermediate gear Wheel.

25. In a combination as called for in claim 24 manually operated devices for suspending, at Will, the reciprocation of said mechanism; whereby the cylinder is then rotated entirely by the driving pinion dun ing said suspension.

26. An intermediate gear Wheel, mechanism for vertically reciprocating it, a driving shaft, a driving pinion slidable on the latter, for rotating the gear Wheel at certain times, means, connected with said mechanism, by Which the sliding of the driving pinion into, and out of, engagement with the intermediate gear Wheel is completed after the reciprocation of said gear wheel has ceased, and further means for continuing the rotation of said gear Wheel after said driving pinion is disengaged from it.

2i'. A type bed, and means for reciprocating it, which include a rotated crank bearing a stud, and a path of varying contour formed in a member operatively connected to the type bed in which the stud is moved, and for retarding said type bed at each of the ends of its reciprocation at a rate of movement determined by the variation in said path along which the said crank stud is moved When retarding said type bed.

San Francisco, Calif., Dec. 14th, 1923.

FRANCIS T. LEILICH. 

